Citizens Climate Lobby A fast track to a renewable economy? Our - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Citizen’s Climate Lobby

A fast track to a renewable economy?

Our purpose

• We’re creating the political will for a livable

world by empowering individuals to experience breakthroughs in exercising their personal and political power.

– lobbying our elected officials – writing letters to the editor and op-eds, and meeting with editorial boards – presenting and tabling at community events

History of CCL

• Founded 2007 in USA

– Over 200 Chapters in US and Canada

• Now in parts of Europe and Nepal
• Now starting up in Australia

– Perth – Brisbane and Sunshine Coast – Sydney – Canberra – Melbourne

2013 Conference in Washington

At the 2013 conference 367 CCL volunteers traveled to Washington DC and had meetings with 439 Congressional

• ffices.

They visited the other 96 offices to deliver our request, reaching all 535 House and Senate

• ffices.

Achievements in Australia so far

• Meetings with my MP
• Meeting with Minister of Environment
• Contact with Julie Bishop in Lima
• Meetings with DFAT Staff
• Meeting with ALP’s Climate Policy Adviser
• Meeting with CEO of Beyond Zero Emissions
• A dozen or so new groups emerging

Methodology

With respect, appreciation and gratitude for their service…..

• we build helpful, friendly relationships with
• ur federally elected representatives
• We lobby in support of our Fee and Dividend

proposal

– and hopefully become their policy adviser

• We are for – not against

Carbon Fee and Dividend

• A simple, transparent, revenue neutral and

steadily increasing fee on the carbon content

• f fossil fuels returned to households as a

monthly dividend

• Includes border adjustments to ensure

fairness between nations and give others incentive to introduce their own carbon price

8

• 2008 to present
• $30/ton
• Support: 64% within BC, 59% rest of Canada
• GDP Growth: BC > rest of Canada

British Columbia Carbon Tax

Outcomes

• Internalise the negative costs of carbon-based

fuels

• Reduce emissions rapidly

– 30% in 10 years – 50% in 20 years

• Reduce pollution and save lives
• Stimulate the economy and create jobs
• Shift investment to renewables

10

What about Cap and Trade?

• Cap-and-trade systems exacerbate the price volatility
• Cap-and-trade is not transparent or easily understandable
• Cap-and-trade system’s complexity opens it to exploitation

and perverse incentives

• Cap-and-trade is usually not applied to emission from every

sector - electricity accounts for only 40% of emissions

• Cap-and-trade funds become hidden tax dollars growing

government

Fee and Dividend is superior to cap-and-trade

CCL activities

• Local branches meeting monthly

– Listen to national conference calls – Decide local actions

• Regional conferences
• National conference

– Lobbying en masse – Washington DC, Ottawa – Canberra 2015??

Monthly International Call and Meeting

• A guest speaker and coordinated action items ensure

CCL partners have the latest scientific and legislative information and that we are aligned on strategy.

 Each team meets

together, usually the first Saturday

• f the month

 10:00 a.m. Pacific,

1:00 p.m. Eastern.

Citizen Lobby Teams

• Volunteers like to do things

together and are more effective as a group.

• Teams practice speaking,

visit their members of Congress, and write letters together.

• Teams provide each other

with support, have fun, and encourage breaking through comfort zones to emerge as community leaders.

Citizens meet in local district U.S. Senate office

Laser Talk

 Clarity is the basis for talking

to members of Congress, writing letters to the editor, and talking to friends and neighbors.

 Each month teams are given

a focused Laser Talk to communicate complex issues thoughtfully and clearly.

 After the call, they practice

the Laser Talk.

Capitol architecture on the Hill

 If we articulate, we can be dangerous to ignorance and

apathy.

How we work with Congress and Parliament

• Common Ground: We build strong respectful

relationships with members of Congress.

• We demonstrate community support: We

bring community members and people who would not ordinarily be thought of as advocates to join us.

• We get published: Members of Congress pay

close attention to local and national media to gauge public opinion.

• We offer solutions: We base our solutions
• n the best scientific and economic data.

Lobby day on Capitol Hill at the international conference

2013 Conference in Washington

At the 2013 conference 367 CCL volunteers traveled to Washington DC and had meetings with 439 Congressional

• ffices.

They visited the other 96 offices to deliver our request, reaching all 535 House and Senate

• ffices.

Be part of the solution

• Dr. James Hansen,

climate scientist:

“If you want to join the fight to save the planet, to save creation for your grandchildren, there is no more effective step you could take than becoming an active member of this group.”

• Dr. James Hansen and Danny Richter, a PhD

candidate at Scripps Institute of Oceanography

It’s up to us

Politicians do not create political will… They respond to it.

• Mark Reynolds,

Executive Director

How to Join

• Join on line – www.citizensclimatelobby.org

– Access to CCL Community

• Weekly Introductory call – by phone
• Monthly International call

– with your local group – listen on line

Questions?

Questions?